Enclosure and manifold for adapting nonconforming fans for use in harsh or wet environments

ABSTRACT

A fan enclosure that has manifolds connected to the inlet and outlet of the fan that provides an airtight connection. The manifolds, once connected to the enclosure, provide a pass through of the enclosure for the fan, thereby not requiring the enclosure to be pressurized. A condensate bypass can be installed both on the discharge manifold and the fan impeller body. Both condensate bypasses can be piped to the inlet manifold, preventing moisture accumulation in the fan and the enclosure. The fan enclosure helps prevent contamination and explosive gas in the air stream from coming in contact with the fan motor&#39;s electrical components and bearings. The fan enclosure reduces the contamination of the impeller bearing, does not draw or push air through the electrical conduit connected to the enclosure, and the enclosure is not required to be airtight to preform properly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/549,568, filed Oct. 20, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fans and, more particularly, to an enclosure and manifold that can adapt a non-conforming fan into a fan for use in harsh or wet environments.

Conventional fans place the motor in the air stream. This can result in fan failure due to motor contamination from the air stream. This contamination can be by moisture of the product being vented. Some conventional fan enclosures can adapt non-inline blowers and work by inducing a vacuum within the enclosure, which can introduce contamination to the motor.

With conventional fans, there can be service issues associated with air tight enclosures. In addition, since the housing is a different pressure than the enclosure, there can be fan failures due to contamination of the bearings of the fan.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved enclosure and manifold for fans that can but used in harsh or wet environments without many of the issues associated with conventional fans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a fan enclosure comprises an enclosure; an inlet manifold disposed inside the enclosure; an inlet fitting fluidly connecting the inlet manifold outside of the enclosure; a fan housing fluidly connected to the inlet manifold; an outlet manifold fluidly connected to the fan housing; and an outlet fitting fluidly connecting the outlet manifold outside of the enclosure, wherein a fan motor is disposed inside the enclosure, outside of an air flow path.

In another aspect of the present invention, a fan enclosure comprises an enclosure; an inlet manifold disposed inside the enclosure; an inlet fitting fluidly connecting the inlet manifold outside of the enclosure; a fan housing fluidly connected to the inlet manifold; an outlet manifold fluidly connected to the fan housing; an outlet fitting fluidly connecting the outlet manifold outside of the enclosure; an outlet manifold drain line operable to drain liquid from the outlet manifold; and a fan housing drain line operable to drain liquid from the fan housing, wherein a fan motor is disposed inside the enclosure, outside of an air flow path.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan enclosure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fan enclosure of FIG. 1, with the door removed; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a fan enclosure that has manifolds connected to the inlet and outlet of the fan that provides an airtight connection. The manifolds, once connected to the enclosure, provide a pass through of the enclosure for the fan, thereby not requiring the enclosure to be pressurized. A condensate bypass can be installed both on the discharge manifold and the fan impeller body. Both condensate bypasses can be piped to the inlet manifold, preventing moisture accumulation in the fan and the enclosure. Since the manifold prevents the enclosure from being either pressurized or depressurized, this prevents the moisture, contamination and explosive gas in the air stream from coming in contact with the fan motor's electrical components and bearings.

Since the manifold system reduces the pressure differential between the impeller side to the motor side, the contamination of the impeller bearing is reduced. Since the enclosure is not pressurized or depressurized, air will not be drawn or pushed through the electrical conduit connected to the enclosure. Since the enclosure is not pressurized or depressurized, it is not necessary for the enclosure to be air tight for the fan to perform properly.

The intake and exhaust manifold configuration of the present invention, as described in greater detail below with respect to the Figures, allows the vented material to pass directly through the impeller housing, keeping the motor free from contamination. The enclosure permits fan use in wet and/or hazardous locations.

Referring to FIG. 1, an enclosure 10 can include an enclosure door 12 covering at least one side of the enclosure 10. An inlet fitting 26 and an outlet fitting 24 can penetrate the enclosure 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the inlet fitting 26 can connect to an inlet manifold 36 encased in the enclosure 10. A fan housing 20 can be fluidly connected to the inlet manifold 36. An outlet manifold 40 can fluidly connect the fan housing 20 with the outlet fitting 24. An outlet manifold drain tube 44 can fluidly connect the outlet manifold 40 with the inlet fitting 26 via an outlet manifold condensate fitting 28 and a first inlet manifold condensate fitting 30. An fan housing drain tube 42 can fluidly connect the fan housing 20 with the inlet fitting 26 via a fan impeller housing condensate fitting 34 and a second inlet manifold condensate fitting 32.

A motor/motor housing 16 can be encased in the enclosure 10, but outside of an airflow path 46, 48 (see FIG. 3) of the unit.

Referring now to FIG. 3, condensate flow is shown by dashed lines 50 and airflow is shown by dashed lines 46, 48. A fan 18 can be disposed in the fan housing 20. The outlet manifold 40 can include a U-channel 38 that is designed to capture condensate while keeping collected condensate out of the outlet air flow indicated by dashed line 48.

While the Figures show the condensate being drained out into the inlet fitting 26, the drain lines 42, 44 can be configured to drain out of other areas, such as through a bottom portion of the enclosure 10, for example. The drain line 42 for the fan housing 20 may be eliminated if the fan is mounted so there is no point in the fan housing 20 for liquid to collect.

A port could be added to the inlet fitting 26 or the outlet manifold 40, for example, to monitor pressure with an on-board or a remote pressure sensor (not shown).

The enclosure 10, since it is not pressurized or depressurized, can be fitted with a vent (not shown) to help cool the motor 16. A drain (not shown) could be installed in the enclosure 10 to allow for condensation within the enclosure 10 to drain.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan enclosure comprising: an enclosure; an inlet manifold disposed inside the enclosure; an inlet fitting fluidly connecting the inlet manifold outside of the enclosure; a fan housing fluidly connected to the inlet manifold; an outlet manifold fluidly connected to the fan housing; and an outlet fitting fluidly connecting the outlet manifold outside of the enclosure, wherein a fan motor is disposed inside the enclosure, outside of an air flow path.
 2. The fan enclosure of claim 1, further comprising an outlet manifold drain line operable to drain liquid from the outlet manifold.
 3. The fan enclosure of claim 2, wherein the outlet manifold drain line drains liquid into the inlet fitting.
 4. The fan enclosure of claim 2, wherein the outlet manifold has a U-channel shape to allow liquid to collect and drain out of the outlet manifold drain line.
 5. The fan enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a fan housing drain line operable to drain liquid from the fan housing.
 6. The fan enclosure of claim 5, wherein the fan housing drain line drains liquid into the inlet fitting.
 7. A fan enclosure comprising: an enclosure; an inlet manifold disposed inside the enclosure; an inlet fitting fluidly connecting the inlet manifold outside of the enclosure; a fan housing fluidly connected to the inlet manifold; an outlet manifold fluidly connected to the fan housing; an outlet fitting fluidly connecting the outlet manifold outside of the enclosure; an outlet manifold drain line operable to drain liquid from the outlet manifold; and a fan housing drain line operable to drain liquid from the fan housing, wherein a fan motor is disposed inside the enclosure, outside of an air flow path.
 8. The fan enclosure of claim 7, wherein the outlet manifold drain line drains liquid into the inlet fitting.
 9. The fan enclosure of claim 7, wherein the outlet manifold has a U-channel shape to allow liquid to collect and drain out of the outlet manifold drain line.
 10. The fan enclosure of claim 7, wherein the fan housing drain line drains liquid into the inlet fitting. 